The Work in Sports Podcast - Insider Advice for Sports Careers

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcast... I’m going to share one of my favorite sayings with you today. “If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry: Worry never fixes anything.” -Ernest Hemingway This doesn’t apply to everything, my daughter started high school this week, I will worry. There is n...

Today’s question ties into great to this concept for today’s question from Corrine in Nevada, As you touched on in one of your previous podcasts, there are many different areas of specializations in both professional and collegiate sports (i.e Sports Reporting, Community Relations, marketing, business operations, analysts, etc). What do you think about people who are working in an area but want to...

On this week's expert podcast, Brian Clapp gets within two (or three?) degrees of separation from Jay-Z as he chats with Roc Nation Sports VP of Operations Michele Rinchiuso. On this WorkInSports episode, Brian discusses his journey in the world of sports marketing at Puma to pivoting over into Jay-Z's empire on the sports side of things and the traits that can help you get to where you want to be...

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast. This week, we've got a question from a curious high school senior named Jeremy who is passionate about getting into the sports industry. He writes: “Hi Brian, I am entering my senior year of High School, I play soccer and baseball at the varsity level, but  not quite g...

Remember ESPN the Magazine?  NEXT athlete, the Body Issue – for me, the Mag was appointment reading.  Maybe I’m a little different, but I grew up addicted to the sports magazine scene. Sports Illustrated, Sport, The Sporting News. Every year my grandmother would get me a subscription to these mags for Christmas, she didn’t have to think about it, just renew the subscr...

Today's Sports Career Q&A Question comes in from Felicia in Seattle:  “Hey Brian, I’ve been listening to your podcast for the past 6 months and it is fantastic, such incredible advice that has served me so well. Your content has helped me gain focus and confidence in my sports career, you have mentioned many times that we should get focused on specific career goals while in coll...

There are two goals in every interview we conduct. 1) We want to paint a picture of our guests career, how they got there and why they love it, because this could inform your later decision in life. I love it when someone says to me “Listening to your show helped me realize I wanted to work in sports marketing.” 2) We want to inform. Even if you have no desire to be an expert in biomechanics, we c...

After a week away from this, time to dip back into the mailbag (digitally speaking) and we've got a great question from Ally in Virginia. “Hey Brian, love your podcast thank you so much for your guidance and expertise. I really appreciate how raw and honest you are. I was blown away by your vulnerability during your tribute to your CEO John last week. I think I cried a little and didn’t even know...

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast. In 2015 Ishveen Jolly brought to market her dream of an open marketplace for brands and athletes to do business. Brands have messages they want to get out in support of their products, athletes of all levels are great spokespeople – let's bring them together in a transpare...

I’m not going to sugarcoat anything, I’m a bit of a mess right now. Our CEO and one of my great friends, John Mellor, died last week at the age of 49 after battling cancer.   You don’t listen to this show to hear me drone on about my life’s problems, we all have them, they are part of the human experience. But I can’t pretend this isn’t affecting me, and we are in an era o...

Almost 390 episodes in to the work in sports podcast and we’re trying something a little different. Two guests -- Two All-time great guests together on one show.   In 2021 one of the main goals I had for myself was to be more of a connector in the industry. I have met amazing people from my career in the sports media, and even more great people from hosting this podcast. I have...

Today's Sports Career focused question comes in from Kenton in California,  “Hey Brian, I just completed an interview cycle for a job I was really interested in. I listened to your podcasts and really nailed the process, thank you so much, I had so much confidence throughout from your guidance and advice. My excitement continued to rise as I went further in the process and real...

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the WorkInSports podcast! Just as much as change is a constant, so too is resistance to change.  Every generation, to some degree, fights against change. They like how things operated in their youth, that is what they see as their perfect combinat...

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.   We’ve got a good question coming in this week and I want to jump right on it, it speaks to the urgency of this moment, and it comes from Michelle in Boston.   “Hi Brian, huge fan of your podc...

If we have learned anything over the last year, it is that we all must constantly adjust, or we will watch the world pass us by.   Quick story – in 2006 I went to Europe for the first time, my wife was competing in a field hockey tournament that took us to Germany, Amsterdam, Scotland and Belgium. IN Germany we visited Charlemagne’s castle – not Charlemagne&...

Today's Work In Sports podcast subject: interviewing skills we don’t discuss enough.  We’ve talked about research and preparation, first impressions, video technology, phone interviews, panel interviews and more.   But we might not have talked about a few other skills that can’t be lost in the preparation for your big moment. I have five I’d like to share today and implant...

Managing and leading people requires a unique blend of patience and expertise.  Patience is paramount to success as a manager because you are inherently managing and leading people who are less experienced in this expertise than you are.  If someday you become the director of group sales for a sports organization, you will be influencing the day-to-day actions of people new to the busine...

I’m going to jump right into things this week with a passionate plea for all of you job seekers out there.   The time is now to go extra.   What is happening in the sports industry right now?   Huge shifts in hiring.   For the last year there has been staffing contraction due to COVID – not necessarily because of revenue depletion, sure in som...

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.  I have a new theory I’m testing out – let’s call it a lukewarm take in progress.   Over the last 10 years as I’ve spoken at colleges and universities across the country, a vast majority of the young people I talk to equate working in the...

Question from Gerald in Oregon: “Hey Brian, whether you know it or not, you have been advising me for years. I know this is the first time I’ve reached out, but I’ve been a huge fan and you’ve profoundly changed my perspective and approach on so many career-focused initiatives. I started listening when I was a junior in college, I graduat...

I know this may sound trite, but I learn something from every interview I conduct on this show. It’s true - when you keep yourself open to learning and open to your own need for improvement, you start to see the opportunity in everything.  I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but today’s guest Shahbaz Khan director of digital content for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, really woke...

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged learning for  WorkInSports.com  and this is the Work In Sports podcast… Community relations is food for the soul of an organization.  Still one of my favorite quotes. It’s from an anonymous CEO, I’d give credit if I could. And it’s a true statement. When most departments of an organization are focused on internally beneficial...

Question of the week comes in from Brian in Pennsylvania. Yes for the second time in a row I am answering my own question.  “What are the big problems you are seeing first-hand as you review applicants to your job openings?”  Great question Brian. As you all should know I’m hiring for three roles, and I’m in the weeds of resumes, phone calls and interviews.&...

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.  Over the last year, I, like many others, have spent time contemplating my own preconceived notions and unconscious biases in every walk of my life.   We all have them, it is a part of the human condition, but where do they come from, and why are they allowe...

July 8th 2010, for many this represents the dawning of the Player Empowerment Era.   If you don’t remember that date, and why should you unless you live in Cleveland, that is the date “Lebron: The Decision” aired on ESPN. Lebron James announcing his intent to take his talents to South Beach in an ESPN special that was proba...