The NIL Playbook: Recent Episodes

The Players NIL

The NIL Playbook, hosted by Mark Koesterer, welcomes a new guest each week to talk sports, professional development, and how they leveraged their athletic experience to build a successful career.

Today's guest is Ishveen Jolly, who shares advice for athletes who want to step up their content creation game.

Hailing from Manchester, England, Ishveen grew up loving sports. Some of the first lessons she learned were how to lose and how to fail. As she grew older, playing team sports taught her how to lean on others and find a role within the group, which has helped her in her career. She also describes how playing sports levels the playing field for all. Regardless of background or physical appearance, your value is your contribution to the team.

Professionally, she began selling sponsorships in the IPL cricket league in India. While working, she developed a sense that there was a better way to do things and that deal-making could be more efficient. With the rise of influencer marketing, social media, and content creation, she realized that individual athletes were as powerful as teams regarding sponsorship. Today, sponsorship is a $60B industry.

Lessons to be learned:

Athletes as people have become the norm
Good content creators are the most sought-after

Her tips and tricks for content creators:

Comment, reply to comments, and interact with your followers
Group posts can boost engagement
Define a theme for your content and stick to it
Consider which brands you are trying to connect with

Open Sponsorship aims to bring transparency and accessibility to the sponsorship world.

Learn more about Ishveen Jolly and Open Sponsorship:

Website: https://opensponsorship.com/
LinkedIn: Ishveen Jolly
LinkedIn: Open Sponsorship
Instagram: @opensponsorship
X (Twitter): @opensponsorship
Facebook: @opensponsorship

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Our guest today is Quint Kessenich, NCAA champion, reporter for ESPN, and the voice of college lacrosse.

Quint takes us through his journey from high school and college athlete and professional and club sports, and he shares the valuable lessons learned regarding teamwork and competitive attitude.

He walks us through his professional career as a wrestling, horse racing, and football reporter, and about the relationships built along the way with coaches and athletes. Quint feels this is a great era to be a college athlete, although understands managing social media can be a challenge.

In this episode:

Where his competitive spirit originated
The profound impact his last high school wrestling match had on the rest of his life
His favorite sports venue
The use of Play for Play and the Transfer Portal
The tremendous resources college athletes can access today
The story he most wants to share
How his fitness regime has evolved over time
How the proposed D1 subdivision will affect Olympic sports
How the Olympics will impact the sport of lacrosse internationally

Learn more about Quint Kessenich:

LinkedIn: Quint Kessenich
X (Twitter): @QKessenich
Instagram: @quintekessenich

Learn more about Lacrosse All Stars:

Website: laxallstars.com
LinkedIn: Lacrosse All Stars
X (Twitter): @LaxAllStars
Instagram: @laxallstars

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Dr. Anthony D’Onofrio joins us this week to share his expert guidance on building a career in athletic administration.

Working in athletic administration comes with a variety of unexpected challenges, such as budget limitations, working with parents, and even obstacles when it comes to scheduling buses. However, Dr. D’Onofrio emphasizes that in order to be successful in this role, it comes down to being able to adapt, overcome, and improvise.

Watch the full episode for his tips on how best to succeed in a career in athletic administration.

In this episode:

Critical knowledge areas that athletic administrators need to master
How to prepare for a career in athletic administration
What to expect when beginning a career in the sports industry
The valuable business skills developed in athletic administration

Learn more about Dr. Anthony D’Onofrio:

LinkedIn: Dr. Anthony D’Onofrio
Email: adonofri@endicott.edu

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Myisha Moore joins us this week for a riveting discussion about the best practices in building a brand as a young athlete.

Growing up with parents working in the education and real estate industries, Myisha learned from a young age that storytelling is the most effective way to communicate, foster relationships, and ultimately build a community. As an adult, this led to her interest in the sports industry as she recognized that coaches, players, and agents found the most rewarding aspect of their jobs to be the effect they had on young athletes’ lives.

Listen to the full episode to find out how she has leveraged storytelling to help her build effective marketing campaigns, create impactful brand partnerships, and teach young athletes how they can use their unique set of strengths and interests to begin developing their own brands.

In this episode:

The importance of storytelling and strong messaging in NIL
How a single tweet led to a huge collaboration and the power a single post can have
Her tried-and-true strategy for helping athletes build their brands
Common mistakes to avoid while building your brand

Learn more about Myisha Moore:

LinkedIn: Myisha Moore

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Nick Buonocore joins us this week to share his story about growing up playing baseball and becoming a father of young athletes. He also explains why he started The Reformed Sports Project.

In today’s competitive landscape, it often becomes second nature to focus on athletic performance first and foremost. Nick recognizes this is an issue and wants to change that for this generation of young athletes. He aims to help athletes focus instead on the lifelong skills acquired by participating in sports.

In this episode:

How to leverage the skills developed in sports and apply them to academics and, eventually, business
The problem with today’s youth sports culture and how we can try to change it
The downside to early sports specialization
What parents should be focusing on when their children are playing sports

Learn more about The Reformed Sports Project:

Website: https://reformedsportsproject.com/
LinkedIn: The Reformed Sports Project
Facebook: The Reformed Sports Project
Instagram: @reformed_sports_project
Twitter: @reformedsptproj

Learn more about Nick Buonocore:

LinkedIn: Nick Buonocore
Instagram: @nick.buonocore
Twitter: @Nick_Buonocore

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Andrew Mackiewicz joins us this week to talk fencing, navigating the challenges associated with being involved in a smaller sport, and how he’s managing his athletic career alongside his professional career after college.

In this episode:

The sci-fi series that sparked his interest in fencing
Addressing the challenges faced by athletes in smaller sports
His take on staying focused as a student-athlete and balancing responsibilities and obligations
Making difficult decisions regarding your future in sports and the professional realm

Learn more about Andrew Mackiewicz:

Website: https://www.dec12thstudios.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-mackiewicz/
Instagram: @andrewmackiewicz

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Karen Phelps Moyer and Sean Collins of Golden Touch, a mobile and web app that’s designed to be a resource to help student-athletes monetize their NIL while simultaneously providing mental wellness support, join us this week on The NIL Playbook.

Both Karen and Sean share the lifelong benefits they observe in those who participate in sports and the valuable character development that athletics has to offer. They also, however, understand the lasting impact of the current mental health crisis that’s being experienced nationwide. By providing resources for student-athletes to monetize their NIL and offering mental health support, Golden Touch has created a well-rounded and balanced program that sets athletes up for success.

Watch the full episode to hear their story and to learn how Golden Touch is encouraging professional development of student-athletes now, so they can enjoy a brighter future later.

In this episode:

The lifelong benefits of athletic involvement
Tips for avoiding burnout as an athlete
The positive and negative effects of NIL on mental health
How Golden Touch is providing professional support to help athletes pursue their dreams

Learn more about Golden Touch and its founders:

Websites
- https://www.goldentouch.world
- https://www.goldenminds.world
LinkedIn
- Golden Touch
- Karen Phelps Moyer
- Sean Collins
Twitter
- @goldentouchNIL
- @kmo50moyer
- @seanatgt
Instagram
- @goldentouchnil
- @karen.phelps.moyer
- @seanatgoldentouch

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Entrepreneur, adjunct professor, author, and management consultant Briana DuBose joins us this week as an incredible inspiration and role model to any young athlete wishing to build a career out of their passion for sports.

Briana shares some of the most important – and difficult – lessons she learned while playing basketball and soccer, and how she leveraged those skills to push herself towards fulfilling her goals. She also discusses the importance of learning to switch gears when life throws you curveballs and how to make the most of each opportunity that presents itself.

Watch the full episode to learn how she defied the odds and found balance in her crazy schedule as a student-athlete while pursuing her academic, entrepreneurial, and humanitarian goals.

In this episode:

The important lesson she learned about advocating for herself
How to find balance with a busy student-athlete schedule
Tips on prioritizing your goals, both athletic and non-athletic
One simple thing that coaches and athletic administrators could do to better serve their student-athletes

Learn more about Briana DuBose and BLD:

Website: https://brianadubose.com/
LinkedIn: Briana DuBose
Book: The ABCs for College Athletes
Twitter: @brianaldubose
Instagram: @brianaldubose

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

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Author and athletic wear brand owner Marina Paul joins us today to share how the struggles she endured as an athlete helped her determine her future career in helping young female athletes overcome the same hurdles she once faced.

Marina reflects on the embarrassment and discomfort she felt during a middle school volleyball tournament where the tiny spandex uniform she was given did not fit her properly. Besides making her feel ashamed of how much skin was being exposed, this also affected her performance as she had to constantly stop to adjust her outfit.

After graduating college – and wearing men’s athletic wear throughout her college athletic career – she decided to take matters into her own hands by starting SPRHRA, a female-focused athletic wear brand that prioritizes function, freedom, health, and comfort.

Watch the full episode to learn the pitfalls of traditional athletic wear and how you can avoid being held back by your uniform.

In this episode:

How women’s athletic wear can affect performance in multiple ways
The slow evolution of female athletic clothing
How SPRHRA is changing the industry by providing functional athletic wear for female athletes
Why athletic wear needs to be tailored to each sport’s specific needs

Learn more about Marina Paul and SPRHRA:

Website: https://sprhra.com/
LinkedIn: SPRHRA
LinkedIn: Marina Paul
Book: Becoming a Superhero
Twitter: @sprhra
Instagram: @sprhra_
TikTok: @sprhra
YouTube channel: SPRHRA

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

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Sam Green joins us this week to discuss the common mistakes and challenges faced by many young athletes when it comes to creating content.

While working for ESPN after college, Sam learned how to create content, shoot videos, edit and optimize them, and otherwise do everything necessary to effectively produce content from her phone. This valuable skill eventually became the one she hopes to share with the world through consultations, workshops, events, and classes for student-athletes who wish to learn more about creating great content.

Watch the full episode to hear how you can avoid common pitfalls and create amazing content – all from your phone!

In this episode:

The biggest struggle many athletes face in NIL deals
Pros and cons of content calendars
The most important thing for athletes to keep in mind when creating content
Avoiding the most common NIL mistake she sees athletes make
Sam’s thoughts on using AI in content creation

Learn more about Sam Green:

Website: https://www.nilwithsamgreen.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthabrookegreen
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sambgreen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sambgreen
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sambgreen_/

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Kayla Bradham is our guest this week with a riveting story of overcoming challenges and seeking to fulfill her personal mission to help others.

Growing up in extreme poverty, Kayla was often told that she couldn’t participate in certain activities because they were “only for rich people”. When an anonymous good Samaritan paid her registration fee in second grade to allow her to play softball, she knew from that moment that her mission would be to help people like her.

This boosted her motivation and encouraged her to be the first in her family to attend college. While in school, she worked for the Green Bay Packers and picked up quite a few life lessons along the way. For young athletes, her journey through education and into her career is an excellent example of how to get your foot in the door of your dream job.

Today, she is finally achieving her goal of helping her community with Sports Philanthropy Network – watch the full episode to find out how!

In this episode:

How growing up in poverty helped her realize her life’s purpose
What Leroy Butler told her that changed her entire perspective
How sports can unite communities
How Sports Philanthropy Network caters to each community’s unique set of needs and challenges

Learn more about Sports Philanthropy Network:

Website: https://sportsphilanthropynetwork.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sportsphilanthropynetwork/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sportsphilanthropy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsPhilanNet
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sportsphilanthropy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsPhilanthropy

Learn more about Kayla Bradham:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylajbradham/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaylaBradham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabradham/
Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@legacyafterthelockerroom/
Book a meeting with Kayla: https://warmly.ai/KaylaBradham

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Cory Hepola joins us this week to share how a difficult life lesson he learned at a young age while playing basketball taught him how to identify and pursue the things in life that matter the most to him.

Failing to reach goals, being rejected, and facing unexpected hardships are all a part of life. Cory shares how having the right attitude and work ethic can turn those challenges into opportunities for growth.

As a TV anchor, communication and the art of storytelling are two things that Cory has extensive experience in and feels are crucial to the development of any brand, whether it’s your individual brand or a company. Here he shares his advice on improving your storytelling to capture your audience's attention.

Watch the full episode to learn how to overcome challenges, find your personal mission, and select a path to pursue it.

In this episode:

How his first failure in 8th grade set him up for success
Why communication and storytelling are crucial skills for individuals and brands
How to identify your personal mission and take action on it
Finding joy in the process of pursuing your mission

Learn more about Cory Hepola:

Website: https://coryhepola.com/
Documentary: Rural By Choice
LinkedIn: Cory Hepola
LinkedIn: Jeff Cravens
Instagram: @coryhepola
Twitter: @CoryHepola
The Brookshire Co: https://brookshireco.com/

About Cory Hepola:

Cory Hepola is an Emmy Award Winning TV Anchor and Documentarian.

Currently, he serves as the Vice President of Communications, Growth & Strategy at The Brookshire Company where he helps businesses around the world reach their fullest potential through strategic connections, high-impact storytelling and inspiring purposeful partnerships.

A dynamic leader led by his core values and mission to empower others, Cory has earned two Emmy Awards for Outstanding TV Anchor at KARE 11 in Minneapolis, been named “100 People To Know” by Twin Cities Business Magazine as the creator & host of his own daily show on iconic WCCO Radio, developed and hosted the popular docuseries “Rural By Choice” and ignited a 3rd party Campaign for Governor of Minnesota.

Last year, Cory was honored by his alma mater, Concordia College in Minnesota, with the “Sent Forth Award” which is presented “to a young alumni who has made an impact early in their career, emphasizing service to others and demonstrating a strong vocational commitment.”

Jeff Cravens, president of On3, joins us this week to share what he has learned from his unconventional career path, his predictions for the future of NIL, and valuable advice for younger athletes.

A lifelong sports fanatic, Jeff knew from a young age that he wanted a career in sports. After taking on a wide range of roles in the sports industry, he recognized that the most important thing he needed to do to succeed was to view every experience as a learning opportunity, regardless of the challenges presented.

Watch the full episode for Jeff’s tips on success in the workplace and his take on the current landscape and future for NIL.

In this episode:

A valuable lesson he wished he’d learned earlier on in his career
What his unconventional career path taught him about success in business
His take on the benefits of NIL for athletes
Predictions for what is to come in the NIL industry over the next few years

Learn more about Jeff Cravens and On3:

Website: https://www.on3.com/os/
Linkedin: On3
LinkedIn: Jeff Cravens
Instagram: @on3
Twitter: @On3NIL
TikTok: @on3sports
YouTube: @On3Sports

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week we are joined by Henry J. Bell, author of The Game Plan and co-founder of B2G Sports.

Growing up in a sports-oriented family, Henry discovered his talent in athletics at a young age, but struggled with academics while in school. As a result he wanted to help other young athletes in similar situations. Finding inspiration in Sonny Vaccaro’s elite basketball camps, he founded B2G Elite Camps to bring the same level of personalized attention to football players. His innovative camps blended athletic training with academic training by inviting guest speakers as well as teaching athletes the business side of sports – which eventually led to the inspiration behind his book.

Watch the full episode to learn how B2G Elite Camps are changing the game for football, plus his top tips for young athletes who are building a NIL brand.

In this episode:

How athletics helped him through academic struggles as a student
What a viral internet video taught him about building a brand
The top 3 things to focus on when building a NIL brand
Why community involvement is key for success in NIL

Learn more about Henry Bell:

Website: https://www.henryjbell.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrybelljr/
Instagram: @henbeezy
Twitter: @HenBezzy

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Yogi Roth joins us this week to share the importance of storytelling as it relates to NIL and how athletes can effectively tell their story while building their brand. His lengthy list of titles and accomplishments include Pac-12 Networks college football analyst, Award-Winning Filmmaker, Scholar, NYT Best-Selling Author, accomplished Coach, Motivational Speaker, Media Personality, Host, and World Traveler.

As a broadcaster, Yogi is perfectly positioned to demonstrate how important it is to share your story both on and off the field. He shares valuable tips for athletes on how to showcase who you are and what you stand for, plus how to use your image developed as an athlete to benefit you after your athletic career is over.

In this episode:

How the words of his 4th grade basketball coach still motivate him today
His philosophy on coaches, power 5 schools, influencers, and social media
What he wants athletes to focus on as they are building their brand
How to differentiate between your brand and your story – and effectively showcase both
The inspiration behind his book, 5-Star QB: It’s Not About the Stars, It’s About the Journey

Learn more about Yogi Roth:

Website: https://www.yogiroth.com/
Linkedin: Yogi Roth
Instagram: @yogiroth
Twitter: @yogiroth

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Tim Flynn, co-founder of DataMolly, joins us this week to share valuable information about cybersecurity, how cyber criminals attack, risks we encounter online, and how to protect yourself.

The internet has brought about many conveniences and improvements, but at the same time these benefits can also sometimes expose our information to others. If that info falls into the wrong hands, you could suffer individually, professionally, or financially. Tim educates us on the risks and shares a few simple steps you can take right now to protect yourself online.

In this episode:

Why no one is immune to cyberattacks
Social platforms are not as secure as you may think
Specific ways that athletes are prone to cyberattacks
How to protect yourself online at any budget

Learn more about Tim Flynn and DataMolly:

Website: https://datamolly.com/
Linkedin: Tim Flynn
Email: tim@datamolly.com

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Athletics and leadership consultant Scott Garvis joins us this week to discuss the benefits as well as the challenges faced by students, parents, and administrators when it comes to NIL.

Inspired by the impact his coaches had on him as a young athlete, he knew that he wanted to give back to students and chose to do so by becoming an athletic director. To further improve the athletic environment for the students, he then started consulting to help other athletic administrators better provide resources for their students.

In this episode:

What everyone should be doing to prepare for NIL
Examples of important life skills students will learn by playing sports and participating in NIL deals
The biggest challenges that athletic directors are currently facing
How schools should be owning their brand

Learn more about Scott Garvis and Scott Garvis Consulting:

Website: https://scottgarvisconsulting.com/
Linkedin: Scott Garvis
Twitter: @PocketAD_
Instagram: @scottgarvisconsulting

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week’s guest is Brendan Kaminsky, founder of bknown agency. After growing up in a sports-obsessed family, he knew as an adult that he wanted to pursue a career that let him follow his passion. After six years at ESPN, he was inspired by the results he was able to obtain with a solid social media strategy and decided to start his own agency.

In his interview, Brendan shares some of the biggest takeaways he’s seen in the NIL world over the last 20 months. He also shares valuable insight for young athletes on how to build their network.

In this episode:

How working at ESPN inspired him to start his own agency
Brendan’s biggest takeaways from the last 20 months of NIL
The most common reason why some athletes aren’t getting NIL deals yet
His advice to young athletes on building a network

Learn more about Brendan Kaminsky and bknown agency:

Website: https://bknownagency.com/
Linkedin: bknown agency
Linkedin: Brendan Kaminsky
Instagram: @bknownagency
Instagram: @bkaminsky

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

In honor of Women’s Day, today’s episode features two incredible female athletes: Bella Rasmussen, a high school football player; and Cami Wilson, an acrobatics & tumbling leader at University of Oregon.

Both Bella and Cami have experienced their share of challenges in getting the recognition they deserve. Thankfully with the new opportunities that NIL has to offer, they are able to share their journey and inspire others to break the mold like they have.

In this episode:

How female athletes are changing the perception of certain sports
How NIL can level the playing field for athletes outside of revenue-generating sports
Using your platform for a purpose
Advice from two female athletes on succeeding in sports and in life

Joining us today is Villanova University student Tanner Maddocks, founder of Athlete Squared and QB of Villanova’s football team.

Tanner shares his background and what drove him to where he is today in his football career, along with the challenges he overcame along the way.

The difficulties he faced in his athletic career served as his inspiration to create Athlete Squared, where his mission is to help other athletes in two ways. One is by providing a platform for older athletes to share their tips and techniques with younger athletes, and the second is to allow easy access to these resources for younger athletes so they can improve their game.

In this episode:

How his company is creating NIL opportunities for athletes while simultaneously educating young athletes
What you can do to stand out as a college athlete
New resources available for athletes today to help them excel
The best thing you can do for yourself if you want to succeed in NIL

Learn more about Tanner Maddocks and Athlete Squared:

Website: https://athletesquared.co/
LinkedIn: Athlete Squared
LinkedIn: Tanner Maddocks
Instagram: @athlete_squared
TikTok: @athlete.squared
Email: info@athletesquared.co

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

In recent years, the negative impacts of excess screen time have become increasingly apparent, but just how bad is it?

Nicole Rawson, digital wellness expert and founder of Screen Time Clinic, joins us this week to discuss the effects of screen use, social media, and video gaming on the developing mind and offers tips on how to manage device usage.

Rawson, inspired by her observations as a teacher and mother, saw firsthand how excessive screen time affected children. Her insight prompted a career change from education to digital wellness.

In this episode:

How excessive screen time can actually cause brain trauma
How social media impacts athletic performance
Why athletes need to advocate for themselves and how to do so offline
The value in making human connections IRL

About Nicole Rawson

Nicole Rawson is a dynamic public speaker and the founder of Screen Time Clinic®, the largest international network of certified digital wellness educators helping schools, corporations, and sports teams make smart choices about time online to flourish in the real world.

Featured in the WSJ, PBS, and other news outlets, Nicole shares a wealth of knowledge about this nichè area called “Digital Wellness” that impacts all areas of mental and physical health as well as youth brain development via seminars, podcasts, and courses. She is the author of a children’s book, Screen Smart Sam, and mother of two young adults whose struggles with gaming and social media addiction inspired her career change from public school teacher to digital wellness expert.

Her children’s book Screen Smart Sam inspires families with young children to prevent digital media overuse (DMO) which causes developmental delays and symptoms similar to those on the Autism spectrum. For adults, Nicole offers self-paced courses and live seminars to guide all ages about ways to prevent technology from eroding our essential human functions necessary for a healthy, happy, and productive life.

For more info:

Website: https://screentimeclinic.com/
LinkedIn: Nicole Rawson
Instagram: @screentimeclinic
Email: nicole@screentimeclinic.com

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week, we are thrilled to have attorney Cal Stein of Troutman Pepper join us to discuss the current state of NIL.

Working with academic institutions and providing compliance counseling, Cal is quite familiar with the challenges faced across the board when it comes to NIL. With unclear guidance from the NCAA – and none at all from Congress – there are plenty of challenges for student-athletes and their families to navigate.

In this episode:

What he learned from playing sports and how it shaped his career
His current take on the state of NIL
How academic institutions are viewing NIL opportunities
His top 3 tips for student-athletes

Learn more about Cal Stein and Troutman Pepper:

Website: https://troutman.com/
LinkedIn: Troutman Pepper
LinkedIn: Cal Stein
Twitter: @TroutmanPepper
Facebook: Troutman Pepper
YouTube: @troutmanpepper
Instagram: @troutman_pepper

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Reid Meyer joins us this week to talk about a common issue that requires more attention – the challenges of selecting the right college to attend.

After experiencing his own struggles due to his college selection, he realized that most student-athletes are not given sufficient guidance in high school on choosing the best college for them to attend. His goal with Athletes to Athletes is to fill that gap and help students choose a school that will not only meet their athletic needs, but their academic, social, and personal requirements for a more fulfilling experience.

Watch the full episode to hear his story and find out how he is helping high school athletes build a better college experience.

In this episode:

The major struggles that student-athletes often face
Why student-athletes are under so much pressure to perform – and how to alleviate it
How to build your identity beyond sports for a well-rounded and fulfilling college experience
His free app with resources for student-athletes

Learn more about Reid Meyer and Athletes to Athletes:

Website: https://athletestoathletes.com/
LinkedIn: Athletes to Athletes
LinkedIn: Reid Meyer
Instagram: @athletestoathletes
Facebook: Athletes to Athletes
Twitter: @A2Aadvising

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week’s guest is Cailey Dockery. Cailey plays volleyball at the University of Notre Dame and is a member of our NIL Storytellers class.

Cailey is a freshman and is looking forward to taking advantage of the short- and long-term benefits of NIL over the course of her college career. She shares important pointers on how to balance a full schedule as a college athlete.

In this episode:

How the Five Pillars Course helped her propel her NIL career
How NIL can help you make a name for yourself outside of your sport
Why spending time on your outside interests will improve your performance on the court and in the classroom
How to make sure you succeed at your goals

Learn more about Cailey Dockery:

LinkedIn: Cailey Dockery
Instagram: @caileydockery
TikTok: @kaykay0.0

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week's guest is Mia Ewell, a softball player at Morgan State University and a member of our NIL Storytellers class, and she shares tips on how to build confidence and why right now is the best time to get started in NIL.

Mia wants other student-athletes to know that there are NIL deals available to them, regardless of the size of their school or what sport they play. She also shares how NIL has helped her build up her confidence and offers tips on how to get started working with brands.

In this episode:

Two important things she thinks athletes should focus on, besides sports
How she's helping to instill confidence in other athletes
Why right now is the best time to get involved in NIL

Learn more about Mia Ewell:

LinkedIn: Mia Ewell
Instagram: @miajo13
TikTok: @miajo13

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week we are joined by Grayson Jons, a content creator for the Johns Hopkins men's and women's lacrosse teams and goalie for the McDaniel College women's soccer team. She is also a member of our inaugural class of NIL Storytellers at The Players NIL.

Grayson shares her story of growing up playing sports with the kids in her neighborhood, where she discovered her competitive side. This drive to win – to excel – is where she developed some of the most important qualities that serve her today.

To excel in any field, it’s always crucial to commit yourself, show dedication, and show up every day. As both a student-athlete and a content creator, Grayson understands the importance of balancing academics along with professional development.

In this episode:

The new mindset she had coming back to the game after Covid
A quick peek at her (very) packed schedule as a content creator and student-athlete
A glimpse at her creative process and how she turns an idea into a story
How she got her start in content creation and where she learned to edit
How to start creating content, even with no experience
Where to find help when a Google search just won’t cut it

Learn more about Grayson Jons:

LinkedIn: Grayson Jons
Instagram: @graysonjons
Twitter: @grayson_jons
YouTube: @graysonjons1329
TikTok: @graysonjons

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Get 10% Off The Five Pillars Course

Note: There is a visual demonstration in this episode. You can watch the full video on our website (https://theplayersnil.com/podcast/tom-zheng/) or on YouTube (https://youtu.be/83_Sy2UOa10).

This week we have a unique episode – our guest Tom Zheng, owner of Adapt Health and Performance, shares valuable advice for athletes on how they can improve their athletic performance by recovering from and reducing risk for injuries.

Tom ran track in high school and experienced multiple hamstring injuries, which he realized were the result of previous ankle sprains he sustained playing basketball when he was younger. This sparked his interest in sports medicine and eventually led him to his career in helping athletes recover from and prevent injuries so that they can improve their performance on the field.

In this episode:

Common mistakes young athletes make that increase their risk for injury
His warm-up routine formula, which can be applied to any sport
A demonstration of a dynamic stretch
Helpful resources for athletes who don’t have access to a strength coach or PT

Learn more about Tom Zheng and Adapt Health and Performance:

Linkedin: Tom Zheng
Website: Adapt Health and Performance

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Gib Versfeld joins us this week on The NIL Playbook to share his NIL journey and offer advice to other young athletes.

Participating in athletics at a high level teaches you many things, and for Gib, one of the most important lessons was passion. He reminds us that you don’t need to be the best at something in order to be successful – what you need to do is find something you truly want, then spend time and effort applying yourself towards whatever it is you want to accomplish.

He goes on to debunk some common misconceptions about NIL and shares his tips for building your brand. As a current student-athlete himself who is currently building his brand, he offers sound advice and actionable tips for anyone looking to do the same.

In this episode:

How playing lacrosse improved his academic performance
How his brand, Goalie by Gib, is helping lacrosse goalies across the country improve their game
What he wants you to know about the most common misconceptions about NIL
Tips on how to get involved and get started in building your own personal brand

Learn more about Gib Versfeld and Goalie by Gib:

Instagram: @goaliebygib
Email: goaliebygib@gmail.com
Linkedin: Gib Versfeld

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Former Trojan Greig Carlson joins us this week to share the many positive effects that playing sports has had on his career, along with some actionable tips for student-athletes to take right now that will help them build their brand.

Greig tells us about the important lessons he learned both on and off the field and how they helped propel his professional career. He attributes much of his success to the support systems, networking opportunities, and discipline built throughout his athletic career.

In this episode:

Life-changing opportunities you can get from playing sports
The different types of people you'll meet while playing sports
How a video game will help college athletes profit from their NIL (including former athletes!)
A few things that current student-athletes can do, right now, to appeal to brands

Learn more about Greig Carlson and Hall of GOATS:

Website: https://hallofgoats.com/
LinkedIn: Greig Carlson
LinkedIn: Hall of GOATS
Twitter: @GOATS_hall
Instagram: @goats.hall
Discord: Hall of GOATS

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Luke Fedlam joins us this week to share how his athletic experience helped lead to success in his career, plus his top tips for athletes as a sports law attorney.

After playing a variety of sports growing up and eventually running track at Wake Forest University, Luke always knew that sports would be a huge part of his life. Having helped many professional athletes navigate NIL deals long before the 2021 legislation change, Luke recognizes the many challenges and risks that athletes are often unprepared to face.

In this episode:

How playing sports while working his professional job helped him get ahead
How athletes can be taken advantage of by brands (and how to avoid it)
3 questions to ask yourself when planning your NIL strategy
The #1 thing to look out for in NIL deals

Learn more about Luke Fedlam:

LinkedIn: Luke Fedlam
Twitter: @LukeFedlam
Instagram: @lukefedlam
Podcast: Protecting Your Possibilities
Book: Sports Law: A Practical Guide to Protecting the Interests of Athletes

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Chase Griffin joins us this week to share his athletic journey as well as his tips for success in school, sports, and NIL.

Chase started playing soccer and learned how to play the violin at a young age. These two passions taught him that hard work and dedication pay off, no matter what you are trying to do. Chase focused on academics in high school and viewed football as something to do for fun, allowing him to relieve some pressure and perform better in the classroom and on the field.

Watch the full episode to find out what his secrets are for success in academics, sports, and NIL.

In this episode:

How his non-athletic hobbies actually improve his football game
Why your choice of school is a 40-year decision, not a 4-year decision
What he does outside of sports to improve his NIL opportunities
His two most important tips for athletes that will help them find the right brands to partner with

Learn more about Chae Griffin:

LinkedIn: Chase Griffin
Twitter: @chaseqb11
TikTok: @chaseqb11
Instagram: @chaseqb11

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week's guest is Ohio State University gymnast and student Zoe Schweitzer. Zoe is also a member of this year's NIL Empower 2.0 Class, sponsored by Meta.

Zoe shares her lifelong gymnastics journey, with recruiting starting as early as 8th grade. She tells us what she's learned along the way, how pushing through and staying motivated while recovering from injuries helped her become a better person, and the advice she would give to young athletes going through the recruiting process or looking to get started in NIL.

Watch the full episode to hear her story and learn how she used athletics to propel her career forward.

In this episode:

How Zoe stayed positive and motivated through injuries, surgeries, COVID postponements, and other setbacks
How she turned her early medical retirement from gymnastics into a positive for her professional development (even while she's still in school!)
Important life lessons she learned at a young age through her involvement in sports and how to apply them to your own life
The most important thing for young athletes to remember

Learn more about Zoe Schweitzer:

LinkedIn: Zoe Schweitzer
Twitter: @zoeoschweitzer
TikTok: @zoeoschweitzer
Instagram: @zoeschweitzer

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Mario Scott joins us this week to share his story. Originally from Germany, Mario's interest in American sports started when he attended an American middle school in Frankfurt, and has only grown since. Today, he is devoted to coaching with a holistic approach as he helps his players develop their personal and professional interests alongside their basketball game.

Watch the full episode to see what this coach has to say about finding your purpose and using sports as a tool to help you get there.

In this episode:

How Mario went above and beyond to stand out to colleges
Struggles he faced being the first in his family to attend college
His “Four Ds” for success and how student-athletes can apply these
His “BIG” philosophy which he teaches to his players

Learn more about Mario Scott:

LinkedIn: Mario Scott
Twitter: @CoachMario13
Twitter: @MyFocusedEnergy
Instagram: @dagermanboy
Website: https://midatlanticselect.org/

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Chris Hogan joins us this week to share his background in athletics and how that experience carried over into his professional career after retiring from the NFL.

Prior to playing for the Buffalo Bills, the New England Patriots, the Carolina Panthers, and the New York Jets, Chris also played collegiate lacrosse at Penn State - until suffering from an ankle injury and going on to play football for Monmouth University. He attributes much of his athletic success to playing a variety of sports and reflects fondly on his strong desire to learn and try new activities, which has served him professionally as well.

Watch the full episode to learn more about Chris Hogan's keys to success as an entrepreneur in the NIL space.

In this episode:

How playing lacrosse improved his football game
The biggest mistake he made while playing football
How he rediscovered his passions and used them to fuel his professional career
What young athletes can start doing right now to build their brand

Learn more about Chris Hogan:

LinkedIn: Chris Hogan
Twitter: @chrishogan_15
Instagram: @chrishogan_15
Partnership with Tomahawk Shades: tomahawkshades.com

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week we are joined by Margot Machol Bisnow, author of Raising an Entrepreneur. She received her BA in English as well as her MBA from Northwestern and spent 20 years working in government. She has two children - Austin, who wrote a number of successful pop songs and then started a popular band, Magic Giant, which has climbed the Alt-charts; and Elliott, who founded Summit, a noted international conference series for Millennial entrepreneurs and creatives, and led the purchase and development of Powder Mountain Ski Reosrt in Utah as a home for this community.

In writing her book, Margot extensively researched the early lives of entrepreneurs. She saw many similarities, some surprising, about how many of them were raised and which likely contributed to their future success in business.

Watch the full episode to hear all about her findings and how parents can better support their athletes.

In this episode:

The connection between athletic participation and entrepreneurship
What sports teach you about failure and building confidence
How the old NIL rules impacted her son, and why student-athletes today should take advantage of these new opportunities
Why starting to build your brand at a young age will benefit you after sports

Learn more about Margot Machol Bisnow and her book:

Website: https://raisinganentrepreneur.com/
Book: Raising an Entrepreneur
LinkedIn: Margot Machol Bisnow

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

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Artist and high school lacrosse coach Ryan Cronin joins us this week to share a bit about his background and some words of advice for young athletes.

Growing up in a family of athletes, he learned at a young age the value of teamwork and working together towards a common goal. As an adult, he continues to apply this mentality to everything that he does.

In this episode:

How Ryan's athletic skills serve him in his career as an artist
How a casual game of lacrosse in Senegal turned into an ongoing opportunity to give back
Advice on taking risks and how to get the results you want

Watch the full episode to hear Ryan's story and learn how skills developed in athletics can apply to just about every future opportunity.

Learn more about Ryan Cronin and CronArtUSA:

Website: https://cronartusa.com/
LinkedIn: Ryan Cronin
Portfolio: Ryan Cronin Gallery
Instagram: @thecroningallery
Instagram: @artistryancronin

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week's guest is NFT and blockchain expert Matt Barnes, founder of sayBLOWE.

With a detailed explanation of how NFTs work and the benefits they can bring to creators, Matt tells us how these digital tokens allow for public figures to express their creativity and connect with their audience.

In this episode:

How NFTs can help artists (including athletes) build a community
Why NFTs give artists more control and ownership over their work
The potential profits to be made from creating an NFT
How athletes can enter the NFT space

Watch the full episode to learn more about NFTs and blockchain, and what they can do for athletes!

Learn more about Matt Barnes and sayBLOWE:

Website: https://www.sayblowe.io/
LinkedIn: Matt Barnes
LinkedIn: sayBLOWE
Twitter: @blowe_say
Instagram: sayBLOWE
Facebook: sayBLOWE
YouTube Channel: sayBLOWE
Discord: sayBLOWE

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week we get the pleasure of speaking with our Pillar 5 Leader, Ryan Schachtner. When a catastrophic injury ended his baseball career, Ryan went on to become a best-selling author, NIL finance thought leader, and the owner of Carolina Asset Management.

Ryan shares his dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, which came to an end after a major shulder injury in college. Knowing he needed to quickly pivot in order to continue building a future for himself, he sought out an internship, bringing on a new set of obstacles. Up for the challenge, Ryan applied skills he learned on the baseball field to his professional life - and it paid off.

Athletics returned to his focus when a collegiate basketball player came to him for an internship. While getting to know this young student-athlete, Ryan discovered that the financial education provided in school was almost entirely lacking. Wanting to change this, Ryan began building an educational program specifically geared towards student-athletes, which is his best selling book, Foundation for Financial Excellence. He has also joined The Players NIL's educational team and is the creator of Pillar 5: Money Mindset.

In this episode:

How athletic experience helped Ryan through challenges in his first internship
The problem with typical financial education provided in school
Unexpected places to look for NIL partnerships
A sneak peek at what you'll learn in Pillar 5: Money Mindset

Learn more about Ryan Schachtner and A Must Win:

Book: Foundation for Financial Excellence
Website: https://amustwin.com/
LinkedIn: Ryan Schachtner
Email: ryan@amustwin.com
Instagram: @amustwin

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Foundation For Financial Excellence: Lessons From The Pros: A Game Plan For The Collegiate Athlete

This week we are graced by two very inspirational guests - Elizabeth Eastin, Chief Development Officer for Laura's House, a domestic violence support organization, and Ella Eastin, a medical student, research assistant, keynote speaker, and former professional athlete. Together, this dynamic and accomplished mother-daughter duo developed the course content for The Players NIL's Pillar 4: Philanthropy & Community Service.

Elizabeth and Ella share how they found their interest in philanthropy, the benefits it has brought to their own lives, and the importance of community involvement in particular for athletes. They also discuss some ways you can start getting involved right now, from how to discover which causes you care about to what steps to take next.

In this episode:

The 3 reasons why athletes need to give back
Why you need to explore your passions outside of sports
The personal benefits to you when you give back
Steps you can take today to start getting more involved

Learn more about Elizabeth Eastin and Laura's House:

LinkedIn: Elizabeth Eastin, CFRE
Website: https://www.laurashouse.org/
Twitter: @Lauras_House
Instagram: @laurashouseoc
Facebook: @LaurasHouseOC

Learn more about Ella Eastin:

Website: https://ellaeastin.com/
LinkedIn: Ella Eastin
Twitter: @ella_eastin
Instagram: @ellaeastin

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week's guest is Ray Austin, who is co-founder and commissioner of Fan Controlled Football as well as CBO of ATHLYT. Previously, he was a defensive back for the Chicago Bears for 5 years, and prior to that he played football at the University of Tennessee, where he received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology.

Ray shares many important memories of his athletic career - both the highs and the lows. He discusses things he did that brought him success, and shares the challenges he faced and mistakes made along the way. He also shares the valuable skills he gained while trying to get into his dream school, which continue to serve him in his career today.

Lastly, he offers his guidance and advice to young athletes on how to navigate NIL opportunities today in our digital environment.

In this episode:

The most important thing he learned as a college athlete
Why you need to view yourself, the athlete, as a business
The value of networking while you are still in school and have a captive audience
Specific, actionable items you can do right now to improve your personal brand and open yourself up to more NIL opportunities
What you can do to make the best decisions about your NIL and your career

Learn more about Ray Austin:

Website: https://rayaustin36.com/
LinkedIn: Ray Austin
Twitter: @rayaustin36
Instagram: @rayaustin36

Learn more about Fan Controlled Football:

App: fcf.io
LinkedIn: Fan Controlled Football
Twitter: @fcflio
Instagram: @fcfl
Facebook: Fan Controlled Football

Learn more about ATHLYT:

Website: https://athlyt.co/
LinkedIn: ATHLYT
Twitter: @athlyt
Instagram: @athlyt.co
Facebook: ATHLYT

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Former Division I basketball player and founder of The Petcash Post, Andrew Petcash, joins us this week to share how his athletic experiences led him to a flourishing career in the NIL industry.

Petcash also explains why he considers athletes the “warriors” of today’s world, and describes the tremendous positive impact they can have on the evolution of technology.

Full of both insightful tips and cautionary advice for young student-athletes, he reminisces on the grueling schedule he faced in college while trying to balance academics and athletics, and how his passion for entrepreneurship fueled him to keep pushing forward.

In this episode:

How athletes are changing the tech industry
Understanding your NIL value and setting expectations for brand deals
Real-world places to look for your first brand deal
The one thing he recommends doing to attract opportunity

Learn more about Andrew Petcash and The Petcash Post:

Website: www.petcashpost.com
LinkedIn: Andrew Petcash
LinkedIn: The Petcash Post
Twitter: @AndrewPetcash

The Players NIL curriculum leader Josh Rosen joins us this week to discuss a critical aspect of NIL which he will be covering in our Five-Pillars Course: brand relations. In this episode, Rosen talks about how he learned from a young age that being involved in sports was a great way to build relationships and get real-life experience. That has held true for him through childhood and into adulthood and his professional career.

Now the founder and CEO of TRG Sports, his mission is to help athletes maximize brand partnership opportunities by helping them develop their personal brand and navigate potential partnerships.

Also in this episode:

Why authenticity is critical and how to achieve it
How to make yourself stand out to brands as an ideal partner
The 4 qualities that brands look for in athletes
A sneak preview of his Pillar Course, Influencer & Brand Relations

Learn more about TRG Sports

LinkedIn: TRG Sports
Twitter: @trgsports_
Instagram: @trgsports_

Learn more about Josh Rosen:

LinkedIn: Josh Rosen
Twitter: @jrosen321_

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week we are joined by Mit Winter, who is not only an accomplished attorney in the world of Name, Image, and Likeness, but is also a Curriculum Leader for The Players NIL’s Pillar 4: Legal, Tax, and Compliance.

Winter played basketball throughout his childhood into college, until he began law school at the University of San Francisco. His continued passion for sports led him to pursue a legal career helping his clients navigate difficult situations involving athletics.

In this episode:

Common pitfalls in NIL deals and how to avoid them
The most important thing for student-athletes to know about taxes
How he predicts the NIL landscape will change in 2-3 years
A valuable word of advice for college athletes

Learn more about Mit Winter:

LinkedIn: Mit Winter

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Dr. Todd Hairston joins us this week to talk about how his love of sports from his early days led him down a career path that allows him to empower student-athletes to take full advantage of the opportunities sports can offer - including and beyond the game.

In this episode:

How student-athletes can avoid being exploited
How student-athletes can hold institutions accountable under the new NIL legislation
Valuable advice on protecting your digital footprint
The one thing college athletes need to take full advantage of while they can

Learn more about Todd Hairston and his work assisting student-athletes at Spry:

LinkedIn: Todd Hairston
LinkedIn: Spry
Website: spry.so

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

We've joined forces with our technology partner, BuzzU, to bring top educational content and resources to student-athletes in the NIL sphere.

BuzzU’s CEO and Founder, Zach Novoselsky, joins us a second time to talk about market trends, what’s been happening, and what lies ahead in the NIL industry for both athletes and companies alike.

In this episode:

How Buzz Scores are calculated (it may surprise you!)
The inherent disadvantage that affects 99% of student-athletes
How BuzzU and The Players NIL are addressing that disadvantage
The challenges that student-athletes will face and how they can prepare themselves

Learn more about Zach Novoselsky and how he is helping student-athletes with BuzzU:

Website: BuzzU
LinkedIn (BuzzU): BuzzU
LinkedIn (Zach Novoselsky): Zach Novoselsky
Instagram: @buzzu_software
Facebook: BuzzU

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

MOGL’s Co-founder and CEO, Ayden Syal, joins us this week for a discussion about how his collective experience with both athletics and finance led him to pursue his true passion, which is empowering student-athletes.

Covered in this episode:

The valuable traits that startups look for in employees
Aligning your personal brand with potential partners
How community involvement can help you build your brand
When to say no to a brand deal

Learn more about Ayden Syal and his work with MOGL:

LinkedIn (MOGL): MOGL Online
LinkedIn (Ayden Syal): Ayden Syal
Instagram: @Get.Mogl
Twitter: @TheMOGLApp
Facebook: @MOGL.Online
TikTok: @Get.MOGL

About MOGL:
MOGL is the leading NIL technology solution offering a marketplace, compliance, and education. The company has been recognized as the leading NIL marketplace and recently won the 2022 SXSW Pitch competition.

On MOGL, athletes and brands can connect in a seamless and compliant manner. The company also offers holistic NIL education and resources to athletes, universities, and partners. Universities who partner with MOGL can access their compliance solution and marketplace capabilities for free.

MOGL was founded by Ayden Syal and Brandon Wimbush. The two were classmates at the University of Notre Dame where Brandon started 16 games at Quarterback and led the Irish to a 10-3 record in 2017. Prior to starting MOGL, Ayden worked in private equity and corporate strategy at Morgan Stanley and Lexington Partners. Also on the team is former D1 Athletic Director Elliott Charles who has held senior athletic administration roles at Clemson, Alabama, USF, Florida A&M, and Chicago State.

MOGL has committed to donating proceeds to local youth athletic programming through a philanthropic partnership with Every Kid Sports.

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

This week, master’s student Charles McNeal joins us to talk about how his college wrestling experience contributed to his professional development and how it led to him pursuing his master’s degree.

On top of being a full-time student and being on the men’s wrestling team, McNeal maximized his college experience by participating in many different activities, including being an RA, a student ambassador, joining clubs, and working several positions within the athletic department at his school. Being open to all of these experiences – mainly introduced to him through his involvement in wrestling – is what he attributes much of his success to in where he is today.

Covered in this episode:

How athletics can help you build confidence and credibility for future opportunities
The one trait from sports you don’t want to bring with you to your professional life
How wrestling helped him get into his master’s program
Why, as an athlete, you should always be conscious of who might be in the audience

Learn more about Charles McNeal:

LinkedIn: Charles McNeal

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Zack Oliver, former quarterback at Northwestern University and current Founder & CEO of MatchPoint Connection, joins us this week to talk about facing difficult decisions, handling rejections, and making moves while student-athletes are still in school.

Covered in this episode:

The best thing you can do when handling rejection
The social media opportunity you cannot afford to miss out on
Advice on creating your brand persona
What NIL can teach you that you won’t learn in a classroom

Learn more about Zack Oliver:

LinkedIn: Zack Oliver
LinkedIn: MatchPoint Connection
Website: www.matchpointconnection.com
Twitter: @matchpconnect
Facebook: MatchPoint Connection
Instagram: @matchpoint_connection

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Creating quality content is crucial to your success in building a brand. But how do you decide what content to create, how to go about creating it, how to make it relate to your brand, and when to publish it?

John Jiloty joins us this week for a discussion about growing your community by providing valuable content:

Covered in this episode:

The risks and benefits of using social media to expand your reach
The types of content you should focus on creating
How to provide value for your audience

Learn more about John Jiloty:

LinkedIn: John Jiloty
LinkedIn: The Martin Group
Website: www.martingroup.co
Twitter: @martingroupco
Facebook: The Martin Group
Instagram: @martingroupco

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

There are many reasons to network, but this week’s guest Heather Lowey opens our eyes to some fresh perspectives. Growing up in a small town, she reminisces on the wonderful support system she had growing up, and how that inspired her to always maintain a network of people she can trust and who can motivate and lift each other up.

Covered in this episode:

Why you need a reliable network and support system
A story of how she persevered through rejection and kept a positive attitude
The bold move that got her the internship she wanted
How mentorship led her to her current career path

Inspired by the opportunities provided by her involvement in sports at a young age and how it motivated her to want to be a better person, she eventually found her true passion in her current career path as a Certified Life and Leadership Coach, where she spends her time guiding and encouraging others to build a better life for themselves.

Learn more about Heather Lowey:

Website: www.heatherlowey.com
LinkedIn: Heather Lowey
Instagram: @hlowey

You can also subscribe to her newsletter for weekly motivation, inspiration, challenges, and humor to get you through the week.

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

In this week’s episode, two-time Olympian Jaime Komer wants athletes to remember that it’s okay to be human – even when doing superhuman things on the field (or, in her case, the pool). Being true to yourself and finding your hobbies and interests beyond sports is crucial to building the life that you want for yourself after the game is over.

Now a Chief Transition Guide at ACT, she guides athletes through the transition into the professional world. She’s all about encouraging who you are today, while working towards becoming the person that you want to be.

Covered in this episode:

Transitioning from sports into a successful and fulfilling career
Remembering to experience life the same way that non-athletes do
Avoiding complacency and managing it in a positive way

Learn more about Jaime Komer:

Website: www.jaimekomer.com
LinkedIn: Jaime Komer
Instagram: @jaimekomer

Learn more about Athlete Career Transition:

Website: www.athletecareertransition.com
LinkedIn: Athlete Career Transition
Facebook: Athlete Career Transition (ACT) Ltd
Instagram: @actpathway
Twitter: @ACTpathway

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Our guest, Dave Meluni, shares the role that his collegiate baseball career played in his transition to his business career in sports education. Currently teaching a course on NIL opportunities, he emphasizes how educating young athletes about NIL will help them make the most of the opportunities available to them.

Discussed in this episode:

A time he let his teammates down
The key to a smooth transition from athletics to business
How to use different platforms to monetize your NIL
How to best position yourself to take advantage of NIL opportunities

Dave also gives us some important reminders about complacency, weaknesses, and competing at your highest level.

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Alex Fourney reflects on a lifetime of playing football and the valuable lessons learned along the way, which translated into a successful business career in tech. As he discusses in this episode, many of the qualities that make you a good player are the qualities that employers look for in candidates.

In this episode:

The 3 questions you need to ask yourself before entering the business world
The advice he gave his own children
Specific actions you need to take if you want to achieve your goals

Now retired, Alex is currently writing his second book.

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Coach, Educator, and Author John Sardella is our guest this week and shares details of how he has enjoyed numerous opportunities throughout his lifelong involvement with lacrosse.

In this episode:

How following your passions will open doors for you
The impact that sports has on the lives of players, coaches, and administrators long after the season has ended
How his return to coaching helped him cope with grief

Learn more about John’s fascinating life and career at his website: www.JohnSardella.com

Publications:

L is for Lacrosse: An ABC Book
A Journey without a Map: Stories of Loss, Grief, and Moving Forward
Quick Stick Harry and the Ball Hog: A Quick Stick Harry Series
Quick Stick Harry and the Legend of Lax Bro Johnny: A Quick Stick Harry Series

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results. Some of our content may also include referral links. If you make a purchase using our referral link, we may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting our mission to educate young athletes.

A Journey without a Map: Stories of Loss, Grief, and Moving Forward

Author and social media consultant Aaron Eisman joins us this week and talks about the impact that social media has had on the sports industry.

In this episode:

How following his passions led him to a successful career
What type of content you should be sharing on social media
The risks and benefits of leveraging social media as an athlete

Visit Aaron’s website: www.aaronsiegaleisman.com
Order his book on Amazon: The Evolution of Sports Social Media

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results. Some of our content may also include referral links. If you make a purchase using our referral link, we may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting our mission to educate young athletes.

The Evolution of Sports Social Media

This week, BuzzU Founder Zach Novoselsky joins us and opens up about the challenges that student athletes face, along with tips on how to get through them.

In this episode:

What it means to run your own race
Challenges for athletes in determining NIL value
How he is helping the student athlete community

Learn more about how Zach is helping the student athlete community:

Visit his website: BuzzU
Follow him on instagram: @buzzu_software

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Jajuan Harley joins us this week to talk about embracing setbacks, using obstacles as stepping stones rather than accepting defeat.

In this episode:

The importance of always doing the right thing
How to pick yourself back up after a setback
How to build your career with confidence

Follow Jajuan’s personal and business journey:

Visit his website: www.jajuanharley.com
Learn about his business: Made2Enhance

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Michelle Meyer, Founder of NIL Network and San Diego State University's NIL Coordinator, joins us this week to talk about the importance of perseverance, networking, and never giving up on your goals.

In this episode:

Tips on leveraging your network to help you succeed
Why you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help
The one thing she regrets not doing - and how you can avoid doing the same

Learn more about Michelle’s work:

Website: NIL Network
Instagram: @nilnetwork
Twitter: @nilnetwork

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results.

Former defensive back Alex Molden joins us this week on The Players NIL podcast to discuss the importance of constantly learning and building foundational knowledge of your sport, using it as a tool to develop your career in athletics.

Covered in this episode:

How to build a strong foundational knowledge of your sport
The one thing you need to do every day to be successful
Why your character is more important than your athletic abilities

A father of eight, Alex is now a motivational speaker and author.

Learn more about Alex Molden:

Website: alexmoldenspeaks.com
Instagram: @alexmolden
Twitter: @alexmolden
Book: The Ultimate Playbook for High Achievement

Disclaimer: All of the content created and released on The Players NIL channels are made as a guide and/or educational tools. Please consume all content at your discretion. The Players NIL is not a certified personal development or financial coach and does not guarantee any financial or professional results. Some of our content may also include referral links. If you make a purchase using our referral link, we may earn a commission. Thank you for supporting our mission to educate young athletes.