The Spread: Where Sports and Creativity Meet Bottom Line

In this episode Cari Sekendur speaks with Chris Shreve, Co‑founder and Head of Growth at Vokol, the first AI audio platform built for sports. Chris explains how Vokol transforms written content into personalized, conversational sports broadcasts that keep fans on team sites and apps, unlock new sponsorship revenue, and power use cases from game‑day copilots to creating custom audio for kids. We co...

Closing the Data Gap: How Vitelle Is Reimagining Healthcare for Female Athletes Roma Van der Walt, founder & CEO of Vitelle, joins Cari Sekendur to discuss building a women-first health platform that brings longitudinal data into clinical and high-performance settings. Roma shares lessons from elite sport, the gaps in female health research, and why context matters. Tune in to hear how Vitelle...

On this episode of The Spread , Cari Sekendur speaks with Dawn Scott, a high-performance professional whose career spans two Women’s World Cup wins, an Olympic gold, and work with FIFA, the US Women’s National Team, England, and the Washington Spirit. Dawn shares why performance in women’s football is shaped by more than training plans or technology. Leadership, culture, environment, and psycholog...

What will it take to stand out in the future of sports? In this episode of The Spread , I talk with Austin Turner, Head of Design at Momento , about how nostalgia, design, and technology, including AI, are reshaping the fan experience. We explore how Momento is bringing back the emotional magic of collecting tickets, turning digital keepsakes into something personal, imperfect, and real. Austin sh...

In this episode of The Spread , host Cari Sekendur sits down with Erin Bailey, founder of Momentum Management , to explore what it will take for professional runners to stand out in the rapidly changing sports landscape. Erin shares why storytelling beyond race day is becoming essential, how athletes like Nikki Hiltz and Emma Bates are redefining connection with fans, and why influencers are somet...

In a world where real fans clock authenticity over hype immediately, the future of sports branding belongs to those who live the game and build with community at the center. In this episode of The Future of Sports series, Cari sits down with Esther Wallace, founder of Playa Society, the breakout merch brand redefining what it means to connect with women’s sports fans. With no investors and no form...

“There’s nothing more disrespectful than saying everyone is great.” — Haley Rosen, CEO of Just Women’s Sports Women’s sports are growing faster than the NFL did in its early years, but the ecosystem around them is still playing catch-up. In this first episode of The Spread's Future of Sports Series, I talk with Haley Rosen , CEO of Just Women’s Sports , about what it takes to build a fanbase, and...

What makes athletes so captivating? Tony Hollingsworth, Sr. Director of Strategy at Laundry Service, has a clear idea why: because they’re the last great superheroes. In this episode, Tony explains how athletes embody the traits of the characters we’ve idolized since childhood—larger-than-life figures with stories that inspire, connect, and evolve. He shares how this perspective shapes his work on...

Blockchain is transforming sports, and it's not just about the fans. Lucy Mills, founder of Ready Sport Global, joins The Spread to talk about how Web3 and blockchain are creating new pathways for inclusion and social impact in sports. We discuss how blockchain is being used to fund social impact initiatives, particularly for underrepresented groups, and how sports organizations are leveraging the...

Michael Mazzara, the CEO of Rogue Expeditions, is pioneering a fresh category in travel: the running vacation. Unlike a traditional founder story, Michael shares his unique perspective on acquiring established companies rather than building them from scratch. He dives into how he assessed Rogue Expeditions’ foundation and identified where he could innovate, expanding beyond adventure travel to off...

Olivia Witherite, Marketing Director for the Webby Awards, shares her experience transitioning from the always-on sports industry, at companies including The Game Day and The Athletic, to her current role, where she’s creating a team culture centered around work-life balance. Olivia candidly discusses the issue of burnout and the crucial mindset shift she embraced after stepping back from the worl...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Alana Casner, the SVP of Business Development & Athlete Relations at Parity, a sports marketing and sponsorship platform dedicated to closing the gender income and opportunity gap in professional sports. With a rich background at The Players’ Tribune, the NBA, and Adorama, Alana discusses unforgettable moments working with NBA legends, the power of ath...

Join us as we explore the intersection of endurance athleticism, entrepreneurship, and authenticity with Bill Armstrong, CEO of endurance sports nutrition brand NEVERSECOND. Are endurance athletes inherently creative or more practical? How does authenticity in athlete marketing play out for his brand? We delve into these topics on this episode of the Spread. Discover Bill's unique approach to mark...

In this inspiring episode of The Spread, we sit down with Suzanne McKenzie, the Founder and CEO of Able Made , a label that brings soccer to the runway. Suzanne's journey is one of resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination. Our conversation delves into Suzanne's personal journey of channeling grief into action after the sudden loss of her husband in 2009. She shares how she honored his...

Your host, Cari Sekendur, sits down with Tim Bartels, the CEO and Co-Founder of Velous , a sports-recovery footwear startup. Tim brings a wealth of industry experience, having previously led sales for renowned brands such as Columbia, Keen, and DC Shoes. Our conversation dives into Tim's personal and professional journey since launching Velous. Join us as we explore the valuable lessons he's learn...

In this episode of The Spread, your host Cari Sekendur sits down with Karen Dobres, the driving force behind Lewes FC's Equality Campaign. Her work not only symbolizes her commitment to gender equality but also showcases how a football club can become a catalyst for societal change. What sets Karen apart is her "outsider lens" approach to football, which has led to a more inclusive and appealing e...

Dive into the intersection of art and sport with Jasmine Maietta, Founder and CEO of Round21. Jasmine's journey from professional athlete to executive at brands like Reebok and Peloton has uniquely positioned her to bring a fresh take to the sports equipment market with her company, Round21. Join us for a discussion on how Round21 is breaking new ground by infusing creativity into basketballs, pin...

Liseli Sitali is a visionary leader in both sports marketing and social impact - advocating for women, especially Black women in sport. She has held a series of impressive leadership roles at top sports companies from DAZN to Sky Sports, and now as Director of Football and Music Partnerships at Expedia Group. Join us as we delve into Liseli's remarkable story, where every chapter is underlined by...

We delve into how the beloved brand, Honey Stinger, has made its mark in sports nutrition with two remarkable guests. Cari Sekendur, your host, sits down with Wendy Mayo, VP of Marketing, and Luke Cherry, Sr. Director of Sports Marketing, for an enlightening conversation that unveils the creative forces propelling Honey Stinger's success. We get to know Wendy Mayo, a visionary marketer with a deep...

We dive into the world of sports media entrepreneurship with Chris Chavez , founder of CITIUS MAG . Join us as we explore how creativity fuels the success of CITIUS MAG, making following Track and Field more accessible for all fans of the sport. We'll explore the transformative power of creativity in shaping the landscape of sports media and how CITIUS MAG has been at the forefront of this evoluti...

Welcome to the first episode of The Spread! We delve into the extraordinary world of Goal Click , where creativity, business acumen, and the magic of disposable cameras intersect. Join host Cari Sekendur as she invites founder Matthew Barrett to take center stage, sharing the inspiration behind Goal Click's vision and the remarkable impact it has had on the global football community. Discover how...

Welcome to The Spread, a podcast where we delve into the creative side of sports by Butter Studio.