Game Changers

You may or may not know who Lesley Eccles is, but you surely have heard of the company she helped create, FanDuel. While creating a sports startup was never her dream as a child, it didn't stop her from working tirelessly to create one of the most recognizable names in our industry. So how did a Scot who knew little about American sports help create the game we know and love? Hear directly from the source on the ups and downs of her journey including what being a woman is like in a male-dominated industry.

Joe Pisapia joins us for a new episode of Game Changers. It started with a love for baseball and over the years, football became a passion as well. But unlike many other stories, his entry into the fantasy sports world came later after his first love and career in acting and teaching as a fight director/choreographer. Long travel days allowed for the writing and creation of his best-selling Fantasy Black Book series, but it was the constant grind that got him to where he is today.

It started as a childhood dream and the pursuit of that dream never shifted for Michael Fabiano. As a college graduate with a degree in tv/radio communications, the lack of opportunities right after finishing his schooling almost led to quitting before his career even started. Now as one of the biggest names in fantasy football, listen in as Fabs tell his story on how he got to where he is today.

It's not easy being successful in the fantasy industry but Joe Dolan has made his mark. His love of sports started early and despite being told to pursue a different path, his desire led him through mentally challenging paths. Listen in as Joe gives his story on what it took to finally feel comfortable and have a sense of belonging.

From youth to adulthood, Liz Loza has faced roadblocks in the sports world simply for being a female. Now as one of the faces of fantasy football, she's here to tell her story on what it took to arrive on the scene and luck wasn't a part of it. Her successes aren't limited to any one area. From being a competitive figure skater to graduating from Brown University with a degree in anthropological linguistics to acting in Hollywood, she now talks fantasy football for a living and we're lucky to have her join the show to share her story.

If you've never heard of Scott Fish, perhaps you've heard of his massive fantasy league, the Scott Fish Bowl. As the creator and manager of the biggest most notable fantasy football league in the world, find out how Scott went from thinking about being a teacher to lifting cases of soda for Pepsi to creating the tournament that every fantasy expert is in. It wasn't all just luck so listen in and let Scott tell his story.

Justin Boone may be coming to us from Canada, but his passion for American football has been around for quite some time. His journey starts with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, a Canadian football team, but the most accurate fantasy expert in 2019 has been grinding his way to the top of the fantasy industry for years. Find out what it took for him to be where he's at today.

Going to Las Vegas for fantasy drafts beginning at the age of 9 is the start of Sean Koerner's journey into the sports world. What happened from then to now can be best explained by the man himself who worked at an airport and was able to fly back and forth to Vegas for free during his college years. Get a peek inside Sean's life through his words including the one thing his wife doesn't think you should ever ask Sean to do.

We're getting to know Jake Ciely from The Athletic in our latest episode of Game Changers! Before The Athletic came calling, he was fired from an insurance company, started a deli that failed, and got bullied by Tony Kornheiser over the phone. How do you go from that to one of the most accurate fantasy analysts in the industry? Listen in as Jake tells his story on what it took to make it. You won't want to miss the golden nuggets that get dropped in this show.

This week's guest is none other than the creator of the award-winning Harris Football Podcast, Christopher Harris. How did he go from covering Nascar while attending grad school for a second time to working for ESPN and writing every football player profile in their magazine? Find out about Chris' journey that led him to leave ESPN and create what you now know as Harris Football. Stick around to see just how similar the fake Harris brothers are when it comes to choosing to eat one single thing for the rest of your life.

We're back and this time we've got the ever-entertaining Mike Wright of The Fantasy Footballers. From starting as the host of their podcast to considering creating a beard oil company, you'll want to listen in as The Hitman talks about his journey as an aspiring musician to meeting his best friends and eventually starting an industry-staple of a podcast. Be sure to stick around to the end to find out whether a hot dog is a sandwich and which footballer Mike would want in a bobsled with him.

The moment you've been waiting for is here! Our inaugural episode is kicked off with special guest Brad Evans, who has been a leader in the fantasy sports industry since really the early days of the game becoming popular. How did this teacher become one of Yahoo! Sports' biggest personalities and what does he predict for sports media as gambling becomes more widely legalized? Listen in as he answers those questions along with what he would suggest any up-and-comer to do if trying to break into this world. Stick around to the end as we wrap up the show with The Blitz, where Brad answers 10 random questions to show off his knowledge. Free Giveaway: Enter now to win a signed Davante Adams helmet at www.fantasypros.com/gcgiveaway/

Game Changers. That's what they're called. That's who they are. The sports industry wouldn't be the same without them and we're here to give you first-hand accounts of what it took to reach the pinnacle of their careers. Want to get into the world of sports? This is the podcast for you.