Full Contact CEO

"Just trying to do some good in the world, straight up!" Words Ruby Tui lives by. The person the world has seen in post-match interviews and press tours is the same person you get in this episode. Ruby is refreshingly down to earth, genuinely curious about others, and she always has a great story up her sleeve.

Joining us today is a man who probably holds the record for appearances on rugby shows here in the US. He's the Founder and Editor in Chief of Gift-Time Rugby Network, he also runs his own company Gift-Time Media & Productions, and of course, he is the founder of the HBCU Rugby Classic and Musical Festival which returns this March 31 thru April 2 in Washington DC. Our Guest is Gift Egbelu

The South Stands of Hong Kong Stadium has not been full since the spring of 2019. This is what is known as an absolute travesty. Highly regarded as the grandaddy of rugby tournaments, Hong Kong hosts one of the best shows on earth. Max Woodward who is the current Captain of the HK 7s team recounts his years playing in the tournament, what it's like after Covid, and how Hong Kong's identity is changing due to the Chinese government's pressure on the multicultural city.

Shane Byrne is iconic. He gets a haircut from the same place he used to go to as a kid and he asks for one thing, "shape up that mullet." Shane represented both Ireland and the British and Irish Lions and after rugby, he's continued to work for his family business, play some golf on corporate tours, and he's even starred in a film. The man is constantly looking for the next adventure and you'll currently find him doing the Tango on Dancing With Stars Ireland.

Zack Frongillo has been a baseball fan all his life, a Red Sox Fan as a matter of fact. So when he received a video message from the Savannah Banana's owner Jesse Cole asking to join the team as the Director of Entertainment, he jumped at the opportunity to bring his talents down to Georgia. Tune in as we learn what it takes to run a Banana Ball game and take a backstage tour of that 9 inning circus.

Julie has done it all! She started a video game company, was an exec at Playboy, and now she's a Co-Founder & President of the most high-profile NWSL team in the league - Angel City FC. The investor group consists of Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner, Serena Williams, a handful of World Cup-winning soccer stars, and many more. Julie shares how the team is dominating on and off the pitch and how equality takes center stage.

Marco Masotti is not afraid to be outspoken on Twitter. He brokers huge sports acquisition deals like the recent takeover of Chelsea FC and the complete re-imagination of the Milwaukee Bucks. But through it all, rugby has been a constant in his life. Now as an owner of the one and only Sharks, as well as as a stakeholder in Saracens, Marco is helping change the game and his influence is rubbing off in the MLR.

We're just around the corner from the start of a new MLR season and that means a new season of Full Contact CEO. The MLR Commissioner George Killebrew calls in from HQ to look ahead at what is going to be an electric 6th Major League Rugby season! George shares some encouraging updates about the league and even gives us a few hints on what's to come. Oh and by the way! We just announced the lineup for the Inbetween Days Music Festival this August 19-20. Check it out at Inbetweendaysfestival.com

Jamo is an entrepreneur, a surfer, a former schoolboy rugby player, and most of all he's a good bloke. He's run restaurants and nightclubs for years and he's now onto two new ventures in Southern California including the much anticipated Palm Springs Surf Club. It's a man-made wave pool that's going to turn the desert into a surfing destination.

Ashley dominated the volleyball court at Dartmouth. She coached the sport at one of its highest levels at Northeastern. It wasn't long before she found herself working the Kobe Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy helping develop the nation's top young athletes. Now she finds herself an as integral part of Science of Sport. A nonprofit that brings math and science to life using sports examples for all learners. Mags learns how he can best develop the Free Jacks Academy as well spread rugby even further into the New England school and club communities.

We welcome along Johnny and Sione so we could really understand the wild and whacky Pig Athletic Club. They've grown a cult rugby following through their social media pages (go follow their IG), their outrageous tours, and of course their outlandish rugby kits and merch. They're elevating rugby union with their use of social media and there is no sign of stopping. WARNING - THERE IS A LOT OF LAUGHTER IN THIS EPISODE!

In between interviews with The Time and ESPN, USA Rugby CEO Ross Young jumps on the pod to share the news that the United States has been awarded the 2031 Rugby World Cup and the 2033 Women's Rugby World Cup! There's a lot of work to be done ahead of these global tournaments and it starts immediately. Tune in to hear what Ross and Mags envision in the run-up to what will be the greatest sports tournaments on earth!

There's no better man to speak to about World Cups and Olympics other than Jim Brown. He's been involved with the world's best sports tournaments and was Executive Director of Competitions at FIFA for the 2006 and 2010 Football World Cups. He's currently leading the United States bid for the Rugby World Cup in 2031, and the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2033. Tune in to find out if Jim thinks the country has what it takes to host Rugby's biggest tournament.

Most may know Lonie as the long snapper that helped secure 3 New England Patriots Super Bowls. Others may know him as the guy who made a snow angel after the Tuck Rule Game. But after 12 years in the NFL, Lonie turned himself into a dynamic marketing leader at huge companies like Red Bull and Go Pro. He's vital to the team at Nocking Point Wines not to mention he's exec producer of an upcoming documentary on athletes who have suffered a traumatic brain injury in their sport. There seems to be no limit to what Lonie can do!

Roger "Dodge" Woodall grew up above a pub in London. It was rather serendipitous because ever since he was 10 years old he has been finding ways to make money in the nightlife and events space. Today you'll find Dodge running the ever-popular sports festival, Bournemouth 7s. He can also be found interviewing some incredibly famous people including the likes of Eddie Hearne and now Carole Baskin of Tiger King fame on his own podcast. And when you think that's not enough, he runs an online event certification program called Event Crowd.

The Emirates Dubai 7s is not only a rugby tournament but it's a desert oasis festival. Tom Burwell has worked in the business of Rugby for years. It includes his experience running the Heineken Cup as well as the CEO of UR7s and now it has brought him to Dubai where he is in charge of kicking off the HSBC World Sevens Series in style. Tom explains how to secure top brands as partners, deliver quality non-rugby entertainment, and he provides a bit of advice for MLR teams looking to elevate the rugby experience.

Dude Wipes has set the tone when it comes to reactionary marketing. They shot to fame when Tyron Woodley had the logo plastered to his behind during a UFC fight, they shipped Diamond Backs pitcher Archie Bradley a supply of wipes after he crapped himself before taking the mound. Needless to say, if there's been a viral accident in the nether regions, Dude Wipes has been there. Ryan provides us with a great origin story and lets us in on what it's like working with Mark Cuban.

Mags learns pretty quickly that Brett Gosper is a man of action. He is the man who propelled our beloved oval-ball-shaped sport into a greater spotlight with the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. He is also the same man that helped get that same sport back into the Olympics where it belongs. Tune in as Brett regales us with his stories of playing for Racing 92 in Paris, and we talk about the much-anticipated arrival of Tom Brady in the city of Munich this fall.

Greg O'Shea has always dreamed of playing professional rugby. He was in Munster's academy system and made his way over to the Ireland Sevens Team where he helped the team qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. He rose to fame in 2019 when he won Love Island, the UK's most popular reality tv competition. Now he spends most of his time running his fitness app, hosting rugby-based podcasts and TV shows, and he's even training for the London Marathon. The real question is, does Mags convince him to come out of retirement and play for the Free Jacks?

Although his accent doesn't necessarily match the jersey, Madison Hughes has proven to be a Captain that you'd follow on and off the pitch, We catch up with the former USA Sevens leader to get an update on his life after two Olympic Games, plenty of tour stops, and what his next move might be.

Blaine headlines our 4th episode in the Captain America Mini Series. For a lot of US rugby fans, Blaine's career trajectory is one of perfection. Winning national titles with Cal, captaining the Eagles, and heading oversees where he consistently started for two massive European clubs, Cardiff and Leicester. Mags digs a little deeper to learn about Blaine's life after rugby that includes earning an MBA from Oxford, working in consulting, and even riding a John Deere lawnmower.

Kate Zackary is not only a menace on the pitch for the Eagles and Exeter Chiefs, but she's also a coach and balances a marketing career with a company all the way in San Francisco while she lives in England. She lets Mags in on the secret to balancing everything in her life as well as the importance of communication and strong leadership.

Todd Clever is probably the most iconic and most successful captain USA Rugby has ever had. From his home in Southern California Todd sits down with Mags to look back at his incredible career, recount some wild stories on tour, and give the listeners some insight into the Todd Clever Foundation which aims to develop grassroots rugby here in the United States. Oh, did we mention he apprehended some robbers in his Noodle Bagz?!

Dan Lyle is an American rugby pioneer. He spent years dominating the English Premiership at Bath and Leicester and even won the famed Heineken cup. Mags sits down with the towering giant to discuss his upbringing, a brief foray with the NFL, and what he's up to now as Director of Rugby at AEG as well as his work as analyst for NBC Sports.

Angela Ruggiero is a four-time Olympian and was the youngest player on the first-ever women's US Ice Hockey team where she won a gold medal. She also was the first female non-goalie to play on a men's professional hockey team. Today, she is Co-Founder and CEO of Sports Innovation Lab where her goal is to help the world's leading sports organizations identify and understand their fans, so they can create better fan experiences. We talk all things Olympics, how sports fans are changing, and her love for rugby culture.

The native New Englander embodies the word resilience. From the age of 8, Charlie Davies knew he wanted to be a professional soccer player. It was a 1994 World Cup game that sparked that dream, but little did he know his career would bring him around the world and provide incredible opportunities to play on the big stage. It also was almost snatched away from him not once but twice due to a car accident and an early cancer diagnosis. Throughout it all, Charlie has put in the hard yards and never quit, even when he wanted to. Dive into the incredible story that is, Charlie Davies.

Often imitated, never duplicated. James Haskell joins Mags to let us in on an incredible career and an incredibly busy life after rugby. He's an author of two books, with one more on the way, a DJ, and is often found touring the UK doing live shows. We learn about his favorite tour, what it took for him to get where he is, and how he's dealt with critics in the past. You don't want to miss this episode!

Court Jeske, the astute and entrepreneurial sports executive joins the pod to talk about his time at USA rugby, what it was like as the CEO of Nashville Soccer Club, as well as growing the MLS and USA Soccer. His wealth of experience taking a vastly growing sport like soccer to bigger stages in the United States provides an incredible template for MLR leaders to work off of.

Jared Orton is the President of the Savannah Bananas, a baseball team that has caught the attention of millions all over the country. Best known for their bright yellow uniforms, players introduce themselves as they walk up to the plate, and yes, of course, the Banana Nanas. But in order to create such a fanfare, Jared and Mags discuss what it takes to build a fan-first organization, the intricacies of "banana ball", and how Chic-fil-a has instilled all sorts of lessons into Jared's life.

Major League Rugby had an incredibly successful 2021. All 99 matches were played with zero cancellations with rapidly growing TV viewers and a lot of that had to do with leadership from MLR Commissioner George Killebrew. Tune in as Mags sits down with George to discuss the season gone by, what it takes to grow a blossoming rugby league in the US, and even get a few tips on building a championship side on and off the pitch. Full Contact CEO is back for a very exciting and jam-packed Season 3.

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes serial entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Tamr, founder Koa Labs, data scientist, venture capitalist, rugby superhero, mentor to many, keeper of thee table at Henrietta’s, over 50 companies started, Bowdoin Rugby, Boston RFC alum, and overall amazing human, Andy Palmer.  Andy was the first ever Angel Investor of the Year award recipient from the New England Venture Capital Association.  The two discuss Andy’s mission-driven investment philosophies, data-management for companies big and small, and of course mentorship, leadership, and the future of sports-business. Join us on this must listen on life as entrepreneurs, the key differences between Cambridge and Silicon Valley, and to learn how to best hire the right management teams! 

In this episode of Full Contact CEO Alex Magleby welcomes the President of Baxter Brewing Co, one of Maine’s largest brewers, if not the tastiest beer, Jenn Lever.  Jenn shares operations management tips and as importantly dives into mentorship, people management, and building a world-class company. Jenn and Alex get stuck into all the parts of growing as CEOs of two humble, hard-working, and free-spirited companies. Both draw on their glory days as high school student body presidents, how best not to operate folk lifts, and who would best wrestle a grizzle. This is a must listen episode on paths to leadership, how to best manage up, down, and over, and the future of great tasting beer! 

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes long time athletes’ rights advocate and former pro basketball player for the Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, and many European clubs, as well as founder and executive for multiple players’ associations, Walter Palmer.  The two discuss Walter’s amazing journey from high school drama class to 33rd overall NBA pick, to his many, many years dedicated to improving athlete conditions in multiple sporting organizations including serving for a time as the NBA Players Association’s Deputy Executive Director of International Development and Marketing. 

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes long time sports business leader, Ian Frenette, with extensive executive level experiences in the NBA, PGA, and pro lacrosse as current president of the former MLL Champions, and now Premier Lacrosse League team, Cannons Lacrosse Club.  The two discuss the MLL to PLL transition, managing a team successfully, and the keys to delivering on the non-negotiables of successfully leading sports-entertainment companies. The episode quickly winds through going from growing up in a small Nova Scotia town to running sponsorships for a premier NBA franchise to leading the growth of the Boston Cannons organization. Join us on this insightful journey on lessons in sports-entertainment, management, the importance of winning, and how these could affect the fast-growing Major League Rugby competition and Alex’s Free Jacks. 

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes All-rugby legend, media personality, and entrepreneur, Keith Wood. Keith captained Ireland and the Harlequins over a prolific World Rugby Hall of Fame career that included two tours with the British & Irish Lions, iRB Player of the Year honors, and holding for many years a world record of full international test tries scored by a hooker. After retiring from rugby Keith founded W2 Consulting specializing in sponsorship planning and marketing implementation, working with global brands such as Mastercard, Nike, Diageo, Royal Bank of Scotland and Rabobank. Keith long worked as a rugby commentator for the BBC and writes in The Daily Telegraph.  The two discuss the great evolution of amateurism to professionalism, leadership, player welfare and star power, and the future of sports-business. Join on this hilarious and must listen to hear about Keith and Alex’s experiences transitioning through the international player ranks, life as entrepreneurs, and to learn how Keith feels about his many nicknames! 

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes Emmy Award winning filmmaker, director, and entrepreneur, Tony Vainuku. Alex and Tony met in little league football and grew up together, making this a very fun and personal episode. The duo discuss their upbringing, Tony’s transition from high school football to filmmaking, the making of Tony’s documentary, “In Football We Trust”, football in Polynesian culture, and knowing your target audience. Tony also gives us a sneak peek into some of his current and future projects. The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/ Website Link: https://www.freejacks.com/podcasts

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes the Director of New England Sales for Delta Air Lines, with over 25 years of experience in the airline and travel industry, Charlie Schewe. In this jam-packed episode, Charlie gives us a unique inside look at one of our elite corporate partners, Delta Air Lines. The duo discuss adapting to macro shifts in the airline industry, a collaborative and humble company culture, creating healthy codes to live by, and how Delta is charting their own path in the industry. The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/ Website Link: https://www.freejacks.com/podcasts

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes the Commissioner of Major League Lacrosse, former CEO of One World Sports, former President of Sports at Univision, and all-around accomplished sports and television executive with over 20 years of leadership experience - Alexander “Sandy” Brown. In this exciting episode, Alex and Sandy discuss the importance of the fan experience, the future of sports broadcasting, as well as e-sports strategy and adapting to changes surrounding Covid-19. You will also learn how Sandy manages the different functions of being a commissioner and an inside look at potentialy expanding MLL. Tune in for an action packed, informational episode - you won’t want to miss this!  The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/ Website Link: https://www.freejacks.com/podcasts

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes fellow Dartmouth alumni, Olympic runner and award-winning actor and writer, Alexi Pappas. The duo talk about Alexi’s transition from the East Coast to the West Coast, her Olympic experience, running as a team sport, as well as her roles in feature films, “Olympic Dreams” and “TRACKTOWN”. Join Alex for more on life beyond being an olympic athlete in this empowering and inspiring conversation. The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/ Website Link: https://www.freejacks.com/podcasts

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes executive coach and speaker Anne Sugar, who has advised top leaders at companies including TripAdvisor, Sanofi Genzyme, and Havas. Anne serves as an executive coach for Harvard Business School Executive Education and has guest lectured at MIT. The two talk about leadership, what drives team motivation and productivity, as well as how to strategically delegate within an organization. Anne and Alex also dive into company culture, the importance of taking a mental break, and how we could all benefit from a phone call, and a little less Zoom - it’s an absolute must-listen!  The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/ Website Link: https://www.freejacks.com/podcasts

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes the former Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, and Major League Rugby’s new League Commissioner - George Killebrew. Tune in for an action-packed lineup of topics; including the growth of MLR, how rugby is disrupting the US sports landscape, and how teams across the league are building communities of raving rugby fans. This is a can't-miss deep dive and behind the scenes take on MLR. The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/ Website Link: https://www.freejacks.com/podcasts

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes Conor Brooks professional scout for the New York Mets to talk about building player relationships on and off the field. It is an action-packed episode with fastballs and the COVID curveball thrown at the MLB. The two talk about scouting and recruiting the best players at the professional level, much like recruiting and building the best team in business. Relationships are key, knowing the players beyond who they are on the pitch, and how important this is to building culture. Join Alex for an insider's take on professional baseball and the unique challenges the league is facing - it's a must-listen episode! The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/ Website Link: https://www.freejacks.com/podcasts

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes Andrew Hawkins, Executive and Host at Uninterrupted; an athlete empowerment brand founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, and former wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns. The duo talk about his transition from the big leagues to the executive ranks and his brand development off the field as a true example of what happens when opportunity meets preparation. If you’ve ever heard “no” in a response to your work, play, efforts, you simply can’t miss this!

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes Allison Fillmore, Executive Director TOUR Championship at the PGA TOUR. In this insider's take on the PGA Tour, Allison shares what the landscape of pro golf looks like during a global pandemic, the importance of communities in building fan engagement, and a really cool story of meeting Tiger Woods during her first sports internship as a sports broadcaster at 18 years old.

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, Alex Magleby welcomes Harry Douglas IV, 10 Year NFL vet, Radio show host, and home chef extraordinaire. This is an energetic conversation on preparation and professionalism in sports, how athletes should think about transitioning from sports to a career off the field, and the impact of a strong core in building successful teams and a culture of winning. The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, host Alex Magleby welcomes Doug Lemov, International Bestselling Author of Teach Like a Champion. Today’s conversation is unlike any other - we talk about the art of sports coaching, how to educate a new audience about rugby, importance of a shared vocabulary for a sports team, and creating a high performance culture. Don’t miss this! The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, host Alex Magleby welcomes Nate Ebner, 3 time Super Bowl Champion, Olympian, and a Co-owner of the New England Free Jacks. This conversation gives a rare inside glimpse into the life of a professional athlete, what are the qualities of good teammates and how a team can identify them, and how athletes maximize success and how teams can support them. This is a super raw and authentic conversation you would not want to miss! The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, host Alex Magleby welcomes Tiger Shaw, President & CEO of the US Ski & Snowboard Association, entrepreneur, and Sports Illustrated 50 Greatest Sports Figures in 1999. Today’s conversation is packed with gems - building a grassroots community to grow the sport, USSAs efforts in diversity, the beauty and uniqueness of sports as content, and USSA’s podium potential at the Olympics. This episode offers a rare inside look at a National Governing Body - listen now! The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/

In this episode of Full Contact CEO, host Alex Magleby welcomes Courtney Banghart, UNC Women’s Basketball Coach, Naismith National Coach of the Year, and an almost reality TV star. Today’s conversation is packed with gems - what does leadership in sports mean and how to prepare players and staff to be leaders, the importance of culture in building a winning habit, and how college sports are adapting to life after COVID. Alex and Courtney also shed light on how being a head coach is like being a CEO. This episode is incredibly interesting and inspiring - tune in to listen! The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/

In the first episode of Full Contact CEO, host Alex Magleby welcomes serial entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and CEO of Premier Lacrosse League - Mike Rabil. We have an action-packed conversation in store for you - starting with how a guy who ran a gym went on to own a professional lacrosse league to PLL’s biggest failures so far and what Mike has learned from them. The two executives discuss the importance of culture in a startup sports league and how to build it the right way. Let’s dive in, just days ahead of the 2020 PLL Championship Series, a fanless, quarantined single-elimination tournament where the league's seven teams will compete in a fourteen-game group play format. Turn up the volume on this one! Premier Lacrosse League: https://premierlacrosseleague.com The New England Free Jacks: https://www.freejacks.com Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fullcontactceo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullcontactceo/

FULL CONTACT CEO with Alex Magleby is new podcast that takes you behind the scenes as CEO Alex Magleby navigates building a sports media and entertainment startup from the ground up. Through conversations with industry leaders, professional athletes and coaches, entrepreneurs, and investors, Alex pulls back the curtain on the business of sports, media, and entertainment. Alex Magleby has always been a full-contact leader. On the pitch as a USA national rugby team player and coach, and now off the pitch as an executive and founder. Follow Full Contact CEO Twitter: @fullcontactceo Instagram: @fullcontactceo Follow Alex Magleby Twitter: @Alexmagleby Instagram: @amagleby